Devotion April 19 - Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

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Friday, April 19 – Deuteronomy 24, 25

Study Questions:

1. What was the maximum number of lashes that could be given to a wrongdoer in Israel? Deuteronomy 25:3

2. What name was given in Israel to the man who refused to build up his brother’s house? Deuteronomy 25:10

3. What promise was made to the honest man in his business dealings? Deuteronomy 25:15

Commentary and Reflection:

In today’s chapters, laws and regulations are imparted to the people. It is interesting to read them. Some of them are taken from contemporary culture, such as the levirate law. This is the law by which a brother would be obligated to marry the wife of his deceased brother to ensure the continuation of the family line and the name of his brother.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary states,

“A brother who refused to carry out this duty was held in public disgrace. This custom was common among many ancient nations, with variations, and survived into modem times among descendants of some of the earlier peoples of India.” SDA BC, Deuteronomy 25:5

This commandment, along with others in the Mosaic Law, is an example of how God speaks to us in our cultural language, as well as how some religious practices have cultural content or nuances. We can say it is a demonstration of God’s cultural sensitivity.

Other laws with cultural applications include those regarding divorce, punishment by lashes, the widow removing the sandal from her deceased husband’s brother and cutting off the hand of a woman who grabs certain parts of a man to protect her husband. Even some rabbis think that the latter should not be taken literally. They later changed the sentence to a fine. Obviously, this radical command applied only at the time of the desert. See SDA BC on Deuteronomy 25:12.

There are other mandates in these chapters that have transcultural and universal application because they are applications of the Ten Commandments. For example, the commandments about honesty, decency, and social justice.

The Law of Moses was for the Israel of that time. The Lord placed it in the Bible so that we know history from the beginning, so that we know our origin and the origin of sin, so that we learn about the necessity and illustration of Jesus’ saving ministry in the sanctuary, and to teach us important lessons in the lives of its characters. The precepts of the Mosaic Law, even the religious ones, and the calendar were for the Israel of that time.

There is a clear difference between the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments. The former were written by Moses under inspiration, in a book, the latter were written by the very finger of God on stone tablets, the former have a temporary application, the latter contain eternal principles that transcend time and culture.

Regarding the command to exterminate the Amalekites, Exodus 17:16 says, “Because t[he LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” Patriarchs and Prophets says about the Amalekites, “The Amalekites had long been high-handed sinners, and their crimes had cried to God for vengeance, yet his mercy had still called them to repentance; but when the men of Amalek fell upon the wearied and defenseless ranks of Israel, they sealed their nation’s doom.” PP 300.

This order came directly from the Lord and Israel was to obey it. In matters of divine judgment like this, we must trust in the Lord’s omniscience and love. Such orders do not apply to modern Israel, which, as such, is no longer the people of God.

May the Lord grant you understanding in His Word and a very blessed day.

Pastor Abel Paulin

Devotion April 18

Devotion April 20

Friday, April 19 – Deuteronomy 24, 25

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Friday, April 19 – Deuteronomy 24, 25

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